Gillware Data Recovery
Gillware Data Recovery is a privately held, Madison, Wisconsin–based data recovery laboratory founded in 2004 that recovers data from hard drives, SSDs, RAID arrays, NAS devices, servers, and phones, serving consumers, SMBs, and enterprise IT through an ISO 5 cleanroom, proprietary tooling, and a 2,000+ partner referral network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersMadison, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Gillware Data Recovery does
Gillware Data Recovery is a privately held, US-based data recovery laboratory founded in 2004 and headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. The company recovers data from failed hard drives, SSDs, RAID arrays, NAS devices, servers, flash media, and phones, with particular depth in modern and complex storage stacks including Btrfs, Ext4, APFS, ZFS, Synology/QNAP modified filesystems, and Intel Optane hybrid drives. Its core technical capability rests on an ISO 5 Class-100 certified cleanroom with modular benches, specialized burnishing equipment, and 100% proprietary in-house hardware and software tooling developed for micro-surgeries on modern high-density hard disks; engineering expertise is concentrated in an in-house team with combined 200,000 hours of recovery experience, including computer scientists, electrical engineers, and mechanical engineers.
The company's go-to-market combines three motions: a sales-led risk-free engagement model (free evaluation, flat-rate quote in writing, payment only on successful recovery for most single-drive cases), enterprise field sales via direct referral relationships with Dell and VMware, and a substantial channel partner network of more than 2,000 managed service providers and computer repair facilities, augmented by a national retail distribution partnership with Micro Center for in-store service. Customer segmentation is horizontal, spanning individual consumers with failed personal devices, small and mid-sized businesses running aging servers and NAS devices, and enterprise IT departments with VMware and SAN environments. Pricing is usage-based, with a priority expedited tier (1–2 business days) and a HIPAA processing surcharge ($150) as additional monetization hooks beyond the standard 6–10 business day turnaround.
Gillware has built its position without any disclosed external funding and remains founder-controlled under Chairman and CEO Brian Gill, with operations sustained by case-by-case service revenue. Cumulative volume exceeds 100,000 successful recoveries since founding, supported by a marketing model that leans heavily on technical content (detailed filesystem-recovery articles), partner referrals, and toll-free phone and web-based case intake rather than paid acquisition.
Gillware Data Recovery firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gillware Data Recovery
- Legal name
- Gillware
- Website
- https://gillware.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Gillware Data Recovery is a privately held, Madison, Wisconsin–based data recovery laboratory founded in 2004 that recovers data from hard drives, SSDs, RAID arrays, NAS devices, servers, and phones, serving consumers, SMBs, and enterprise IT through an ISO 5 cleanroom, proprietary tooling, and a 2,000+ partner referral network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Gillware Data Recovery industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Data Recovery Services
- NAICS
- Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (8112)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Repair Services (7600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Data Recovery, Device Unlocking & Software Repair Services (CRACAJAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Immutable Backup, Air-Gap & Ransomware Recovery (HDABAIAJ), Cyber Recovery & Ransomware-Resilient Backup Services (BPAEALAG)
Keywords
Where Gillware Data Recovery is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Madison
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gillware Data Recovery business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Data Recovery Services: Standard single-drive recoveries use risk-free model: free evaluation, flat-rate quote in writing before work begins, payment only on successful recovery; complex multi-drive cases may carry engineering charges regardless of outcome
- Priority Service Upgrade: Optional priority service tier offering 1-2 business day turnaround for additional fee; standard service is 6-10 business days at no extra charge
- HIPAA Data Processing: Special processing for electronic protected health information requiring special handling; adds $150 to standard pricing
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Service - 6-10 business days turnaround, no extra charge |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Priority Service - 1-2 business days turnaround, additional fee applies |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | HIPAA Protected Data Processing - additional handling required |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Gillware Data Recovery product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gillware Data Recovery is a professional data recovery laboratory that recovers lost data from failed hard drives, SSDs, RAID arrays, NAS devices, servers, flash media, and mobile phones. The company operates an ISO 5 Class-100 certified cleanroom and develops proprietary in-house hardware and software tools to handle complex recoveries including modern filesystems (Btrfs, Ext4, APFS, ZFS), Intel Optane hybrid drives, and ransomware-affected systems. Services are sold primarily on a risk-free engagement model with flat-rate quotes and pay-on-success terms.
Product overview
Gillware Data Recovery is a data recovery service provider operating since 2004, offering a comprehensive suite of recovery services for various storage devices and file systems. The core offering centers on emergency and standard data recovery services for hard drives, SSDs, flash media, servers, RAID arrays, and NAS devices. The company maintains an ISO 5 Class-100 certified cleanroom lab with proprietary in-house developed recovery hardware and software. Specialized services include file system-specific recovery for APFS (Mac), Btrfs (Synology/SUSE), Ext4 (Linux), and ZFS (including QNAP QuTS hero), as well as Intel Optane hybrid drive recovery and ransomware-affected systems. The company serves both consumers and businesses, with referral relationships from major partners including Dell, VMware, and Micro Center. Pricing follows a risk-free model for single-drive cases (free evaluation, flat-rate quote, payment only on success) with more complex multi-drive cases potentially carrying engineering charges regardless of outcome.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Emergency Data Recovery
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100,000 successful data recoveries from storage devices since 2004
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Gillware Data Recovery
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Gillware Data Recovery technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Gillware Data Recovery partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- VMWarecoreVMWare recommends Gillware to their customers for data recovery needs in virtual enterprise environments. Gillware is VMFS experts and recommended directly by VMWare for VMware/ESXi data recovery situations.
- DellcoreGillware is the only data recovery company listed on Dell's website. Works with Dell support agents to provide both software recovery and in-lab recovery for Dell customers.
- Micro CentercoreGillware and Micro Center have partnered together to provide world-class data recovery services throughout the United States at every Micro Center location.
- Over 2,000 Managed Service Providers and Computer Repair FacilitiesmajorOver 2,000 managed service providers and computer repair facilities refer their clients to Gillware when they need data recovered. These partners trust Gillware for best value and competitive pricing with the best chance to recover data.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Gillware Data Recovery competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DriveSavers: DriveSavers is a long-established US data recovery lab offering recovery for hard drives, SSDs, RAID, NAS, and mobile devices with a comparable cleanroom-based service model. It is the most direct comparable to Gillware in target customers, pricing structure, and enterprise referral positioning.
- Ontrack (Kroll): Ontrack provides data recovery, erasure, and forensic services globally, with deep enterprise and RAID/NAS capabilities. It is a direct peer in advanced multi-drive and virtualized environment recovery, competing for the same enterprise customers.
- Secure Data Recovery Services: Secure Data Recovery operates a certified cleanroom lab offering HDD, SSD, RAID, NAS, and server recovery. It competes head-to-head with Gillware for SMB and enterprise recovery cases in the US market.
- ACE Data Recovery: ACE Data Recovery is a US-based data recovery services provider covering hard drives, SSDs, RAID, and mobile devices with Class-10 cleanroom facilities. Comparable in service breadth, customer segments, and pricing model.
- Stellar Data Recovery: Stellar offers both software (DIY) and professional data recovery services for drives, RAID, and virtual environments. It overlaps with Gillware's consumer and SMB recovery cases while also extending into software-led recovery.
- SalvageData: SalvageData is a US data recovery company providing RAID, NAS, SSD, and ransomware recovery services. It is a direct competitor for SMB and enterprise recovery work, with similar risk-free or no-recovery-no-fee offerings.
- Datarecovery.com: Datarecovery.com (and its affiliated 365 Data Recovery brand) provides cleanroom-based HDD, SSD, RAID, and smartphone recovery. It is a direct US peer competing for consumer and SMB recovery demand.
Emerging players
- Proven Data: Proven Data specializes in ransomware and server recovery with a strong enterprise and incident-response positioning. It overlaps with Gillware's ransomware and VMware recovery services while focusing more narrowly on incident-driven cases.
Broad incumbents
- IBM Data Recovery Services: IBM and other large storage OEMs offer enterprise-grade data recovery and DR services as part of broader infrastructure portfolios. They compete for high-end enterprise cases while offering a much wider service catalog than Gillware.
- Datto (Kaseya): Datto provides backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity for SMBs and MSPs, including ransomware-resilient backup. It competes indirectly by reducing the need for third-party recovery through better backup postures for the same SMB customer base.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Gillware Data Recovery social profiles
Digital presenceGillware Data Recovery financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gillware Data Recovery leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Gillware Data Recovery funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gillware Data Recovery M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gillware Data Recovery
What does Gillware Data Recovery do?
Gillware Data Recovery is a professional data recovery laboratory that recovers lost data from failed hard drives, SSDs, RAID arrays, NAS devices, servers, flash media, and mobile phones. The company operates an ISO 5 Class-100 certified cleanroom and develops proprietary in-house hardware and software tools to handle complex recoveries including modern filesystems (Btrfs, Ext4, APFS, ZFS), Intel Optane hybrid drives, and ransomware-affected systems. Services are sold primarily on a risk-free engagement model with flat-rate quotes and pay-on-success terms.
Is Gillware Data Recovery a public or private company?
Gillware Data Recovery is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Gillware Data Recovery founded?
Gillware Data Recovery was founded in 2004. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Gillware Data Recovery based?
Gillware Data Recovery is headquartered in Madison, United States, in the North America region.
How does Gillware Data Recovery make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Data Recovery Services are the primary driver. The others are priority Service Upgrade and HIPAA Data Processing.
Who are Gillware Data Recovery's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DriveSavers, Ontrack (Kroll), Secure Data Recovery Services, ACE Data Recovery, Stellar Data Recovery, SalvageData and Datarecovery.com. Proven Data is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are IBM Data Recovery Services and Datto (Kaseya).
Does Gillware Data Recovery have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gillware Data Recovery.
What industry is Gillware Data Recovery in?
Gillware Data Recovery's product category is Data Recovery Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAJAJ, Data Recovery, Device Unlocking & Software Repair Services, with a secondary code of HDABAIAJ, Immutable Backup, Air-Gap & Ransomware Recovery. Its NAICS code is 8112 and its SIC code is 7600.